Confirmation of 15 new grand justices hinges on a vote

The legislature waits for the outcome of a vote today to decide a date for the legislative confirmation of 15 grand justice nominees, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said late yesterday.

"A final decision of whether the legislature will finalize their confirmation by extending this legislative session is likely to be taken by vote at the legislative assembly tomorrow," Wang said.

Wang made the remark after ruling and opposition lawmakers failed to reach consensus in inter-party negotiations about finalizing the legislative agenda for reviewing and confirming the grand justice nominees.

Wang named two options that will be presented at today's legislative assembly -- officially the final day of this legislative session. The first option proposed that lawmakers would extend their jurisdiction to June 6 and the review of the grand justice nominees will be delayed until the next session, right after the Legislative Yuan resumes its agenda on Sept. 5.

The second option, according to Wang, contends that lawmakers must finish the nominees' review and the legislative session will be extended to June 17.

Wang added that, if legislators cannot resolve the dispute about a final date for carrying out the confirmation today, the Legislative Yuan could also adjourn today in accordance with the original agenda.

The KMT agreed with the PFP on Wednesday that the legislature should postpone the confirmation to the next session for "a thorough scrutiny of the 15 nominees."

The proposed deferral was however yesterday questioned by the TSU legislative caucus as an electioneering tactic.

"The pan-blue alliance could have planned the delay in order to create a chance for the next elected president to name their favored alternates, once any of the 15 nominees were disqualified after September," said TSU Legislator Chien Lin Whei-jun (錢林慧君).

Chien Lin added she is confident that the legislature is competent to scrutinize the nominees and finalize the confirmation within an extra one-week legislative session, if the vote goes that way.